Slipper



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4 3 m.. Vm 4 G 'I .F g Au States Patent Oiice 2,995,838 Patented Aug.- l5,y 1,961

2,995,838 SLIPPER Robert S. Servin, Jenkintown, Pa., assignor to Robert Hosiery Mills, Inc., Trappe, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed ocr. 19, 1960, ser. No. 63,513 ZClams. (CL36-9) This invention relates to a slipper, and more particularly, to a stretch-type slipper. It is desirable to have a slipper for Wearing around the` house which is soft, comfortable, warm, and capable of snugly fitting the foot so as to be retained thereon. The appearance of the slipper both on and o the foot is an important feature of a slipper. Also, the flexibility of a slipper is desirable since it enables the slipper to occupy a minimum amount of space for traveling purposes.

It has been found that a stretch-type slipper has many advantages overV other type slippers. A stretch-type slipper will t various size feet so that the slipper need only be made in a few standard sizes to cover the complete range of sizes of feet. In addition, a stretch-type slipper is most desirable for children since it`permits a longer use of the slipper even as the childs feet grow.

The stretch-type of the present invention is preferably made from flexible fabric material knitted so as to have a plurality of spaced parallel rows of open-type mesh extending longitudinally along the body of the slipper from the heel to the toe so that the body of the slipper is stretchable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel slipper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel stretch-type slipper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stretch-type slipper which holds its shape on and off the foot.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel stretch-type slipper having a body made from fabric material, with the body divided into two halves along the longitudinal axis of the slipper with each half being colored differently.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelstretch-type slipper which is light in weight, is soft and maintains the foot warm.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawing a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the slipper of the present invention in the shape assumed by said slipper when itis being worn.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged View of the material from which the body of the slipper is made.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a slipper designated generally as 10.

Theslipper comprises a sole 12 and a body formed ofl two identical body halves 14 and 16. The body halves 14 and 16 are joined together at the seam 18 by the stitching adjacent the toe of the slipper 10.

The body halves 14 and 16 are also joined adjacent the heel of the slipper 10 by stitching to form a seam 22. The seams 18 and 22 are coincident with one another and lie along the longitudinal axis of the slipper 10.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 5, each of the body halves 14 and 16 are made from a single layer of fabric having a plurality of spaced substantially parallel rows 24 of tightly knit thread. The rows 24 are interconnected with rows 26 of open mesh knitting. The rows 24 and 26 extend longitudinally from the heel to the toe of the slipper 10. Thus, the'body halves 14 and 16 are stretchable because of the nature of the fabric knit. When the slipper 10 of the present invention is not being worn, it will assume the position as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1. When the slipper 10 of the present invention is being worn, it will assume the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE l.

The body halves 14 and 16 are preferably made from different colored material so as to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the slipper 10. The upper portion of the body halves 14 and 16 are provided with an elastic tape 28. The elastic tape 28 is stitched to the body halves 14 and 16 by a stitching 30. 'I'he tape 28 is provided with a color which corresponds to the color of one of the body halves 14 and 16.

As seen more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3, the sole 12 comprises a layer 34 of elastic material, such as foam rubber or foam plastic. A separate layer 36 of knitted material is bonded to the upper surface of the layer 34. A separate layer 38 of knitted material is disposed against the lower surface of the layer 34. The layer 36 of knitted material is bonded to the layer 34 of foam rubber so as to prevent slippage between these layers by the sliding action of a persons foot when the slipper 10 is being Worn. There lis no direct bond between the lower surface of the layer 34 and the layer -38 of knitted material.

The sole 12 is of a shape to cover the entire bottom of the foot. The layer 34 of foam rubber or foam plastic is substantially thicker than the knitted layers 36 and 38 so thatfthe layer 34 provides a cushion for the foot.

The entire bottom edge of the body halves 14 and 16 is folded inwardly, and is secured to the upwardly folded edge 40 by the overlock stitching 42. The ends of the seams 18 and 22 are also turned inwardly with the lower edge of the body halves 14 and 16 and the stitching 42 extends through the seams 18 and 22. Thus, no loose ends subject to unraveling are presented on the slipper 10 of the present invention. It will be noted that the overlock stitching 42 penetrates the layers 36 and 38 of knitted material, layer 34, and the lower edges of the body halves 14 and 16. The seam formed by overlock stitching 42 extends around the entire periphery of the sole 12.

In use of the slipper 10 of the present invention, the elastic tape 28 permits stretching of the top edge of the body halves 14 and 16 to permit a foot to be easily inserted into the slipper 10. When a foot is inserted into the slipper 10, the body halves 14 and 16 will stretch longitudinally to correspond with the size of the foot. The stretching of the body halves 14 and 16 results from the manner in which the body halves are knitted. The elasticity of the tape 28 holds the upper edge of the body halves 14 and 16 snugly around the foot ybelow the ankle. Thus, the slipper 10 will not slide olf a foot. Since the sole 12 is comprised of knitted fabric and a layer of foam material, the sole 12 will stretch longitudinally to correspond with the size of a foot. When the slipper 10 is removed from the foot, the slipper 10 will return to its normal size as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1. p

The present invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specication as indicating the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A slipper comprising a sole having a relatively at layer of foam rubber covered on each side by a knitted material layer, said sole being of a shape corresponding to the bottom of a foot, a pair of body halves, said body halves being of knitted material of diierent colors, said body halves being joined by a seam extending from the toe portion of the sole and a seam extending from the heel portion of the sole, said seams being coincident with one another and extending along the longitudinal axis of said sole, the Ibottom edge of said body halves being turned linwardly and sewn to the edge of said sole by a -line of overlock stitching, said line of stitching extending through all of the layers of the sole to secure said layers together, the knitted material layer on the upper surface of said sole being bonded thereto, and an elastic tape extending around the free edges of said body halves thereby dening an opening through which a foot may extend, said tape being stitchedto said halves, said i tape having a color corresponding to one of the body halves, said body halves being knitted in a manner which permits said body halves to stretch.

2. A slipper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body halves are knitted with a plurality of spaced substantially parallel rows of tightly knitted thread interconnected with rows of open-mesh.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

